Metformin and Ozempic are widespread prescription medicines which can be used to assist individuals handle their diabetes.
As a result of these medication work in numerous methods and their use collectively is comparatively new, you could have questions on how they work together, what the unwanted side effects could also be, and the way nicely they work collectively.
How do metformin and Ozempic differ?
To assist perceive why you is perhaps prescribed one drug, the opposite, or each directly, it’s vital to know just a little bit about every treatment and the way they differ.
Ozempic and metformin are completely different in a number of methods. To begin with, metformin is a each day (or twice-daily) oral treatment that often is available in capsule kind, whereas Ozempic is a once-weekly injectable drug.
The 2 medication have completely different lively elements and act on the physique in numerous methods, too.
Metformin
Metformin is among the many most prescribed medicines on the earth. It’s most typical use is as a first-line therapy for kind 2 diabetes.
Metformin reduces the quantity of glucose launched by the liver, decreases the quantity of glucose absorbed within the intestines, and will increase insulin sensitivity, permitting particular person cells within the physique to eat extra sugar and use that sugar extra effectively.
It has additionally been demonstrated to have a variety of different well being advantages. More and more, metformin is being prescribed for individuals with:
Metformin has additionally been proven to assist individuals drop extra pounds in some circumstances.
Ozempic
Ozempic is the model title for the commonest drug that makes use of the lively ingredient semaglutide, which is predominately used to assist handle diabetes.
Different drug corporations additionally make medicines with the identical lively ingredient as Ozempic (these embody the model names Rybelsus and Wegovy).
Ozempic is a glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1, agonist. It mimics hormones within the physique that assist to control blood sugar ranges.
It will increase the physique’s pure insulin manufacturing, decreases the liver’s manufacturing of glucose, slows the emptying of meals out of the abdomen into the small intestines, and reduces urge for food, which tends to result in weight reduction.
Whereas Ozempic is a comparatively new drug, having been FDA-approved in 2017, metformin has been in the marketplace in the US since 1994. Each medication have seen vital will increase of their use since their introduction.
Why would I be prescribed metformin and Ozempic?
The first motive these medication are prescribed is to assist handle blood sugar ranges.
They assist most individuals decrease their common blood sugar ranges as measured by an HbA1c (A1C) blood take a look at (a measure of glucose management over the earlier 2 to three months). The results are fairly vital.
Medical trials have established that, at its most dose, metformin will help lower A1C ranges by 1.5 p.c, whereas a mean dose of Ozempic can lower A1C by 1.4 p.c.
In the event you’re at present on metformin and it’s not offering its full advantages anymore, your healthcare supplier may contemplate prescribing Ozempic. This could possibly be to evaluate how nicely it really works by itself as a substitute of metformin, or to make use of it as an extra therapy alongside along with your present metformin routine.
There are different causes chances are you’ll be prescribed metformin or Ozempic. Nevertheless, these makes use of are typically off-label (not authorised by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration [FDA]).
Each metformin and Ozempic have been proven to assist with weight reduction along with their major operate of decreasing common blood sugar ranges. Whereas neither drug is FDA-approved for weight reduction, it may be a useful impact, particularly for individuals who have kind 2 diabetes and issue sustaining a wholesome weight.
Each medication are additionally established to lower the chance of main cardiovascular occasions, corresponding to coronary heart assaults.
Whereas many of those off-label results could also be useful, metformin and Ozempic are usually not prescribed solely for these causes.
Are you able to safely take the medication collectively?
Typically, the reply is sure. Medical trials have established that it’s usually protected to take metformin and Ozempic collectively.
Not solely is it usually protected, however it’s really turning into frequent to prescribe these medication collectively as a mix remedy, since they complement each other in serving to handle blood sugar ranges.
The medicines additionally will help with cardiovascular well being and weight reduction in ways in which might reinforce each other.
Taking metformin and Ozempic collectively might be an efficient technique to handle blood sugar ranges, particularly for individuals with kind 2 diabetes.
What unwanted side effects are there to taking each metformin and Ozempic?
Whereas each of those medicines might be efficient at controlling blood glucose ranges, they will even have unwanted side effects, and taking them collectively might enhance the chance of sure adversarial and negative effects.
Each metformin and Ozempic may cause gastrointestinal signs corresponding to nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
See extra in: Can Metformin Trigger Diarrhea?
Taking these two medication collectively can enhance the chance and severity of the unwanted side effects chances are you’ll expertise.
In case you are taking metformin and Ozempic collectively — or in case you are prescribed them along with insulin — it’s particularly vital to pay attention to the indicators of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
Low blood sugar ranges may cause the next signs:
- Starvation
- Dizziness
- Nervousness or irritability
- Perspiring (sweating)
- Tremors
- Tingling sensation within the lips
- Fast heartbeat
- Fatigue or weak point
- Imaginative and prescient alterations, like blurriness
- Confusion
In the event you expertise any of those signs, it’s vital to examine your blood sugar ranges — and should you’re low, to rapidly deliver your blood sugar again as much as a standard vary by consuming or ingesting one thing with carbohydrates.
Metformin and Ozempic every have their very own potential unwanted side effects which can be very uncommon, however vital to find out about.
For metformin, these embody vitamin B12 deficiency and lactic acidosis, a doubtlessly deadly situation wherein lactic acid builds up within the physique.
See extra in: Can Metformin Trigger Lactic Acidosis?
For Ozempic, this contains thyroid tumors.
Medical trials have proven that taking each at medicines as soon as doesn’t enhance your total threat of experiencing severe unwanted side effects.
It’s vital to learn any paperwork that include your prescription and to speak about every prescription drug and its potential unwanted side effects along with your physician.
You may learn extra concerning the unwanted side effects of every drug right here:
Does Ozempic work higher than metformin?
As a result of metformin and Ozempic work in numerous methods, neither essentially works higher than the opposite.
Relying on the dose, both metformin or Ozempic might decrease blood sugar ranges greater than the opposite drug.
Ozempic has usually been proven to assist individuals lose extra weight than metformin, however everybody’s expertise is completely different, and outcomes might differ from individual to individual. Additionally, neither drug ensures weight reduction, neither is both drug FDA-approved for that goal.
Can you’re taking metformin mixture medication with Ozempic?
Mixture medication for individuals with kind 2 diabetes typically embody metformin paired with one other drug that works in a different way. This method enhances the general effectiveness of the therapy, as every drug targets completely different elements of diabetes administration, thereby enhancing total blood sugar management.
Including an Ozempic prescription on high of a metformin mixture drug ought to solely be carried out in session with a physician, as every of the three (or extra) lively elements can have its personal set of unwanted side effects, interactions, and contraindications (conditions wherein the medication shouldn’t be used as a result of it’d trigger hurt).
Is metformin safer than Ozempic?
Metformin is usually thought of to be among the many most secure and most studied medication for serving to individuals handle their blood sugar.
Whereas metformin has been in frequent use longer than Ozempic, every drug has undergone in depth, rigorous testing.
Nevertheless, every particular person’s threat elements and their very own expertise of unwanted side effects will differ. So it’s vital to work along with your physician to know how every drug’s security profile, dangers, and unwanted side effects stack up towards its advantages, all inside the context of your private well being historical past and objectives.
Learn extra in: Is Metformin Secure?
What meals needs to be prevented when taking metformin and Ozempic collectively?
Meals that may trigger an upset abdomen are finest to keep away from when taking metformin and Ozempic collectively. These embody greasy, fatty meals and meals excessive in saturated fats (corresponding to butter, fatty cuts of meat, and cheese).
It’s usually finest to avoid refined and extremely processed meals as nicely (corresponding to white bread and packaged items), and you may additionally be suggested to keep away from ingesting alcohol when taking metformin and Ozempic.
Observe all pointers and directions on any prescription medicines you’re taking. It’s at all times a good suggestion to speak along with your physician concerning the food regimen you need to eat and any meals, drinks, or behaviors you need to keep away from when beginning a brand new prescription.
You may learn extra about which meals to keep away from right here:
How a lot weight are you able to lose on metformin and Ozempic collectively?
It’s vital to keep in mind that utilizing metformin and Ozempic collectively for weight reduction is an off-label goal that isn’t FDA-approved, so it’s particularly vital to work along with your physician to know the advantages and dangers.
In the event you’re prescribed metformin and Ozempic in your kind 2 diabetes however want to drop extra pounds, there are FDA-approved weight-loss medication which can be protected for individuals with diabetes that your physician might also prescribe.
Medical trials have proven that metformin alone results in a mean weight lack of about 5 p.c of physique weight for roughly a 3rd of people that take the drug, together with lack of about 12 to fifteen kilos in individuals with out diabetes.
For people who find themselves chubby or overweight, Ozempic has been demonstrated to end in a mean weight lack of 14.9 p.c of physique weight.
Study extra in:
